Hi

Just a quick note...Cyan, because of your pep talks you have helped get as far as I have...I know next week if you stay with your plan you will see results. Betty...your plan for eating sounds great...I discovered those rice cakes last week and I love them!...Reina, I know what you mean about weight gain during your period and Pizza hut is a killer (maybe just try to have a slice of cheese pizza and the salad bar. Lady, way to go with the pounds off...Twaiwan, it was great reading your post...

Well, I just wanted to report that I wore one of my "skinny" pants today...yes, they were tight but they made me think about
everything I put in my mouth.

Talk to you later....

Hi There!

Cyan, You made some real progress this week, so don't get discouraged. Your period could definitely be the reason you didn't lose. Also, think back on what you were doing when you were losing weight regularly; has anything changed? I'm glad you aren't giving up. You've come too far to give up now.

Debee, you really gave some good guidelines in your post. Thanks!

Reina, I like your idea of the weight loss chart. Total weight and inches lost as a group is an awesome idea.

If no one objects, I would like to include how much each individual wanted to lose when we started and how much we have lost in the letter to Oprah. I won't send the letter until it gets closer to July when we can call for tickets.

I did so well at lunch .... until dessert! I had salad with low fat dressing, steamed broccoli instead of french fries and even took the cheese and bacon off the ham sandwich. Then I saw the raspberry cheese cake and there was no stopping me! Boy it was good! I told myself if I was going to eat all that fat and calories I had better enjoy it, so I ate it real slowwww. Yum!

See you tomorrow!

Lady

Hey! I completely forgot to weigh at the gym this evening. But I know that I was down 5 lbs from where I thought I was when I went. So I will just look at that as at least a 2 lb loss this week...and move forward.

Cyan...I'm so glad that you are going to hang in there. Just during this last week that I've begun to get to know all of you. You have been an incredible inspiration to me...and I can tell you are working hard at this...hang in there...it will pay off.

Debee-Congrats on wearing your skinny pants today. That's awesome!! And I do agree about the rice cakes being great. You were where I heard about them! Thank you!!

I forgot to post my calories for yesterday...so here are yesterdays and todays...

Yesterday 1593 and 27 grams of fat.... the calories were high yesterday as were the fat grams for what I was aiming for. But today they are better.

The calories for today are 1100 and the fat grams at 25. I'm still aiming to get them down to 20 regularly...but I will just set that as a long term goal.

This has been an amazing week as far as exercise and eating goes for me. I've actually made it through the week drinking my water, not eating after 8 and I've been to the gym to lift weights or do cardio every day from Monday on. Tomorrow I'm planning to do some cardio at the gym in the AM and then take Sunday off from the gym.

I'm headed for bed...but I hope that everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow and I will check back in tomorrow evening.

Betty

Hi ya'll Went out of town today and just got back. It's late and I have to work tomorrow so I dont have much time again. Couldnt wait til tomorrow tho to give my report:
I lost 4 lbs since last Friday!!! It was sooo cool weighing this morning!! Anyway, I cant stay online right now but just had to let everyone know...thanks to all of you for helping me do that! Couldnt do it without ya...

MIKI

ok quicky as I am holding baby with one hand and typing with the other.

Lost only 1lb, but did pathetic on exerceise and all this week. BUT did lose another .5 inc most places! I'll write more later.

That is so wonderful Miki, Betty and Taiwan on the weight loss...we are really doing it!

I only have a few minutes but I forgot to mention in my last post that I bought a digital pedometer at Radio Shack for about $20. I am going to wear it to see how much walking I do in a day. If anyone else would like to get one maybe we can set a goal and pretend we are going on a "trip" maybe the distance to Chicago or if we are very motivated to vist Taiwan. I am going to calculate the miles from Philly to Chicago and Taiwan and see if I can walk it on my pedometer in 6 months. I am going to mark it on a map showing how much closer I would be if I were actually walking there. When I finally "arrive" I am going to read a travel book on it and maybe make a meal the location is famous for...anyone want to join me on my "journey" ? We on post our results on Wednesdays on where we walked to on our own maps.

debee, it measures the mileage? That is so cool. I was looking for one here in our area, but I only found one that measure the steps taken. I need to shop around the internet. I would be up for one of those challenges, though walking to Taiwan would take along time

Can't write personal messages today as I am tired need to clean up some stuff before bed. I did try to make chicken salad tonight. I was using 0%fat and 39calorie/100cc yogurt. Well, I didn't quite realized til I got home that it also had aloe in it. When I tasted the salad after using the yogurt for a dressing I about puked. It was the most awful thing I had ever tasted. Soooooooo, I ended up eating like 3 pieces of whole wheat bread with 1/2tsp of "I can't believe it's not butter" ---we recently got that here. Then I warmed up my sons rice porridge made with brown rice and added some of the veggies the family had for dinner. I cooked for them tonight. Stir fried (used 1tbsp of oil per veggie or meat, should've been ok then right?) cabbage and carrots and pork and green peppers. Wonder if I ate that with them what it would've "cost" me? Anyway, that's the main thing of my day. Talk to you all later.
Reina--I know what you mean about the late period. Mine is 6days late now, makes one nervous!!! But if feels like it's coming and talk about moody--whoooaaaa watch out world!!
Ok, I had a long letter written before and something happened and it didn't show up. Really signing off now.

I am a little sad today, My lovebird died this morning...she was not feeling well for a little while...she had a tumor growing in her neck and it was quite big...she is survived by her two children
Jack and Jill and her husband Fred. Fred is looking a little depressed...I hope he is able to snap out of it.

Well I am off to start my chores but I will check back later to post how I did calorie wise and exercise wise.

Cyan

Hi,

Cyan, I am so sorry to hear about your bird. It can be very painful when a loved pet dies.

I went off my healthy habits today big time! My family decided to go to a new IKEA this afternoon that opened about 20 minutes from my house. We got caught in a massive traffic jam and the place was so crowded you could hardly move. The store was so big it was probably 5 miles of walking. We decided to have lunch at the in-store swedish resturant. I love swedish food... I am Norwegian and grew up with hardtack, salmon, swedish meatballs, and apple and almond tarts. The tarts get to me... my hubby brought a dessert sampler ( I was so mad at him for tempting me) Well, I ate the salmon for lunch but also the whole dessert sampler!!!!

It gets worse!! My hubby also bought pistachio Nuts and I ate about 2 cups worth.... at 705 calories a cup and fat grams at 50 I am so over today in calories and fat. My husband although he says he is supportive seems to want me to fail...well I know I should take responsibilty for what goes in my mouth however, it is hard to have the temptation around! Sorry, I had to vent.

Well, I did lose the 4 lbs but last nite we went to an all-you-can-eat buffet place that had everything you can think of. I had waayyyyy too much and could no way possible even begin to add up all the calories. Today calorie wise is great tho. I did decide a few weeks ago that on the weekends, I am allowed a meal that I really want and love no matter how healthy or fattening or whatever. ( all-u-can eats werent to be included tho ..wanted to still eat within reason even tho it might not be the best choices in foods) Anyway, that is behind me so for the rest of the weekend, I'll be a good girl.

I have something funny to tell. Several years ago, during another time I was on a supposed weight loss journey, our group at church did the WeighDown Workshop Bible-based program. In a nutshell, we were taught how in the beginning, God made us with bodies that worked perfectly. Just as our brain tells our body to take the breaths we need, our empty stomach had the purpose of telling us to eat. Never was it in God's plan for us to eat for any reason but for nourishment. It was to be the gasoline for our body's energy. Notice how eating was involved in the very first sin?? That's human nature, to abuse what we were given as far as foods. God made foods for us to enjoy. He didnt give us flour, sugars, etc so we could just WISH we could have them. He meant for us to have them but we abused that privilege. No longer does our stomach tell us when to eat...it doesnt have a chance. We keep it full 24/7 most of the time for a variety of reasons like emotions, the time of day it is, celebrations, etc. So anyway, keeping all that in mind, Gwen, the lady that founded that program, said once that if we are honest with God and tell him we have no control, and we ask forgiveness for the mess we LET our bodies get in, that he would help us in many ways. She gave a few examples she had encountered herself after deciding to totally depend on God to teach her how to eat the way he planned. One of the examples was One day she was in a bad mood and craving sweets. She didnt care that she was already full, she was determined to have some ice cream. So she heads to Baskin Robbins and gets a dip of her favorite kind. Just as she walks out the door, the entire dip just rolls off of her cone onto the pavement. She wanted to cry at first she wanted it so bad, but then it hit her....maybe it fell because she didnt need it in the first place. Ok, I explained all that to tell you what happened to me recently and made me think back to that class.

There is a tiny steak and fish house about 5 miles from here that have wonderful grilled steak, the best! I wanted one BAD but I didnt want to come here and post a ton of calories. So, I made a deal with hubby that we would get ONE large steak dinner then half the steak and potato between us. I went to pick up our order, and the owner says"Oh, I almost called you. Our grocery truck didnt come today so we only had small. I went ahead and fixed that instead of calling" Well, I thought, no big deal. Even there small is pretty big. I get home and open the stirofoam carton and there is the smallest steak you've ever seen. No way it was enough for both of us. Needless to say, hubby got it. Every bite he took, I was dying..LOL but I thought to myself, hmmm...guess I didnt really need it after all.

Ok, that was weeks ago. Thursday nite, I decided again that I want food from there. Didnt want to do bad tho so I ordered myself the steak tips with bell pepper and onions knowing I wouldnt get a great big bunch of steak and to make it even better, I said I wanted no potato at all..just a little extra salad instead. I got home and I had NO POTATO, NO ROLL and NO SALAD EITHER!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Well, today I was at work and we were very busy. The bank branch is in a grocery store so I just called the deli and ordered me and the other lady a hamburger so we wouldnt have to leave to pick something up. I got mine out, sat down to eat finally around 2:00, the first minute I had...and soon as I took a bite, I felt like something was wrong. I opened the bun and there was mustard, lettuce, pickle, and tomato...PERIOD....NO MEAT!!! They forgot my meat!!!!!!!!!! I tried calling over to the deli and they were so busy, they never answered the phone. I was too busy to go back across the store. Soooooooooo, I had a veggie burger instead....I told the lady I was working with, "Ummm...I am thinking I should get the hint that I really really need to be on this diet." Everywhere I go, I am reminded. I've also decided that Yes, God has a very big sense of humor.

Cyan, I am sorry to hear about your bird. I hope her family doesnt stay depressed for long. It really is sad to lose a pet.

Debee, that pedometer sounds neat. Im going to try to find one also. Your post today made my stomach growl..I'm starving. All that food sounded yummy.

Taiwan, stir fry is what helps me get my fat grams down. The kind I fix has 45 calories per cup and NO Fat. It's a great "diet" food and I love it. In fact, I'm having that tonite. It's cooking as I type. ( have to keep running to stir )

Betty, sounds like you're definitely on the right track too. Glad to hear that.

Well, I had the early shift on the computer tonite so alot of you havent posted yet. I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Mine is ok even tho I worked today. I am off Monday tho..yeahhhh

Going to go for now...Bye all!

Miki

Hello girls. I think I missed yesterday...did I post yesterday? I don't remember. I've been reading all the posts, but I just haven't had anything good to say. I've really been being bad. So, I've decided to post tonight for the sole purpose of confessing...so here goes.

Remember after the surgery when I started losing weight? Well, I thought, gee this is great! I can eat whatever I want. Well, I've stopped losing and have even gained a pound back. I've really been thrown off track...actually, I've jumped off the track. I feel really bad and I'm angry with myself. I know that part of it is frustration with wanting my body to be 100%, and not being able to go to the gym. The other part of it is how my life has been hectic ever since being accepted into the nursing program and all the things I have had to do to prepare for that. There have been dr appts, books to buy, financial aid papers to sign, daycare center to tour, orientatation, setting up study space, sick kids, uniforms to pick out, immunization records to find...and so on and so on. But, I know that none of that is an excuse to treat my body poorly and load it with bad things. I really feel horrible! And I'm going into the Health Proffesion?!! I really need some encouragement and some motivation. I know I can count on you girls to pull me through. I NEED you!!!!!

So, here is my plan. Tomorrow is Sunday, the first day of the week. I'm going to have a Slim Fast for a late breakfast and then will have dinner at my mother in laws at 5pm. I will not have dessert and I will have reasonable size portions of the dinner itself. I will also drink all my water tomorrow.

Monday I have 2 Dr appts. One at 10:30 and one at 2pm. So, I think after my hubby gets home at 4:30, I'm going to the gym. My body is feeling pretty good and I'm going to burn some calories. I've been able to lift laundry baskets with clothes and 12 packs of pop, so I know that the 5 pound weights will be fine. I will also do the treadmill for 30 minutes at a reasonable pace and then I will sit in the sauna. I really need that time to get my body feeling good for my first day of school.

School will start the next day for me and then my schedule will be very different. My goals are to drink my water everyday. We are ecouraged to bring snacks to class since we're there for 4 hours, so I'm thinking baby carrots, cucumber slices...etc. Subway is very close to school, so that's where I'll have lunch a lot after class is out.

Okay, sorry to ramble on about my boring schedule but I really needed to see it "written" out. I've really envious of all of your motivation and successes. I've felt like an outsider and it's all my fault. Please help me!!!!!


Lisa

Oh yeah, Miki, I really needed to read about your previous weight loss plan. I have really felt guilty at times for treating this body that God gave me so bad. Your post really reminded me to ask for forgiveness and for strength to do better. Thank You!

Also, one more thing.....I know another reaon I've been eating poorly. I've really been feeling some stress about what my career endeavor might do to my kids. I feel selfish at times when I think about all the studying I'm going to have to do and all the time I will be away from home doing things for school. Yesterday at my daughters Parent Teacher Conference, her teacher told me that she was concerned because Whitney wasn't making any progress with her letters and numbers and there was a question about whether or not she would be ready for first grade. I know I will have to start working with her more each night. I guess I'm just stressed because I want to be a top student, a good mom, a good wife, a good housekeeper and be able to do all the other little things that come up in life. I don't see how I'm going to be able to do it all....not to mention, exercise. I would really like to get into some yoga and/or some meditation to help myself deal with the stress. Any advice? I'm excited about nursing school, yet nervous because this is the first time I've decided to do something all myself and just taken the plunge...I don't want to mess up!

Thanks for letting me vent....again.

Lisa

Lisa, no you didnt post last nite. Your post was noticeably missing. I love hearing from you and first thing wondered where you were. Dont beat yourself up over messing up. Wont change it but will make you miserable. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. All of us in this thread, I think, has the problem of eating for stressful or emotional type problems. Ok, we now realize that and you know that's why you did what you did...so let's kick the habit!! Just get back on track and in no time you'll be feeling great again. I promise from experience!! You've had a load lately and are about to take on more so think ahead of how you'll deal with different situations so they dont sneak up on you. Like what you'll snack on, what you'll cook for the family when you're busy studying, etc. Sounds like you have a great plan already in the works so stick to it and come back and tell us how much better you feel. I bet you'll really enjoy being able to get back to the gym but dont overdo it!! That would just set you back more. Start back in moderation and soon you'll be back better than before. You cant quit or give up...I wont let you! I cant...you never let ME do that! So I have to return the favor. More than once, I've failed and you personally have said things to make me realize it wasnt the end of the world and that I had to get back on track. Thanks for that and now take your own advice! It was great coming back and seeing you had posted! Really did miss you.

MIKI

P.S.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((Lisa)))))))))))))))))))) )))))) There ya go...I think this time you need a hug more than a kick. Feel better now?? lol

Thank you. Your post made me cry...with appreciation. I am very emotional lately. Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you girls.

and thanks for the hug. I really needed that!

Lisa